Disk player with disk changer functions

Abstract

A disk player with disk changer functions and having a stacker for storing plural disks for playback allows a new disk to be added or disks to be changed without removing the stacker. The disk player is also convenient for playback of single disks not to be stored in the stacker. A single tray carrying one of disk-carriages is transportable between a loaded position inside the player and an ejected position outside the player, by means of a shuttle engageable with the tray. During further movement of the shuttle in the disk-loading direction, it is disengaged from the tray in the loaded position. Instead, the shuttle comes into engagement with the carriage formerly carried by the tray, to separate the carriage from the tray remaining in the loaded position and advance the same toward the stacker. The carriage is at last received fully in the stacker with the help of a spring, which releases engagement between the shuttle and the in-stacker carriage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. Disk player with disk changer functions comprising: a plurality of first carriers each adapted to carry a disk;   a single second carrier adapted to carry one of said first carriers and movable between a loaded position inside the player and an ejected position outside the player;   a stacker for storing said first carriers;   a drive mechanism operative for reciprocation of said second carrier, together with said first carrier carried thereby, between the loaded and the ejected positions, as well as for reciprocation of said first carrier between an operative position wherein it is carried by said second carrier in the loaded position and an in-stacker position wherein it is stored in said stacker; and   disk-reading means for playback of said disk carried by said first carrier in the operative position,   said drive mechanism including a shuttling member driven to reciprocate along directions of reciprocation of said first and second carriers,   said shuttling member having a first element engageable with said second carrier when positioned in a first section of path of reciprocation thereof for movement of said second carrier between the loaded and the ejected position, and a second element engageable with said first carrier when positioned in a second section connected to said first section for movement of said first carrier between the operative and the in-stacker positions.   
     
     
       2. Disk player according to claim 1 which further comprises disengaging means for disengaging said first element of said shuttling member from said second carrier when said shuttling member enters said second section. 
     
     
       3. Disk player with disk changer functions comprising: a plurality of carriages each adapted to carry a disk:   a single tray adapted to carry one of said carriages and movable between a loaded position inside the player and an ejected position outside the player;   a stacker for storing said carriages;   a drive mechanism operative for reciprocation of said tray and said carriage carried thereon between the loaded and the ejected positions along a path of reciprocation and for reciprocation of said carriage between an in-tray position wherein it is carried by said tray in the loaded position and an in-stacker position wherein it is stored in said stacker; and   disk-reading means for playback of said disk carried by said carriage in the in-tray position,   said drive mechanism including (i) a shuttle driven to reciprocate over first and second sections of the path of reciprocation of said try and said carriage; (ii) a tray lock arm pivotably connected to said shuttle and provided with a first element engageable with said tray when said shuttle is in the first section for movement of said tray between the loaded and the ejected positions; (iii) a carriage lock arm fixed to said shuttle and provided with a second element engageable with said carriage when said shuttle is in the second section for movement of said carriage between the in-tray and the in-stacker positions; and (iv) control means for controlling angular position of said tray lock arm such that a first angle of rotation thereof, which assures engagement between said first element and said tray, is changed to a second angle of rotation for disengaging said tray from said first element when said shuttle is moved from the first section to the second section.   
     
     
       4. Disk player according to claim 3 wherein said control means comprises a guide groove for receiving a guide pin protruding from said tray lock arm, said guide groove being integrally composed of first and second straight sections extending in parallel with the directions of reciprocation of said shuttle and an oblique section interconnecting said first and second straight sections, whereby said first and second angles of rotation of said tray lock arm are maintained while said guide pin is being guided along said first and second straight sections respectively, said first angle being changed to said second angle during movement of said guide pin along said oblique section. 
     
     
       5. Disk player with disk changer functions comprising: a plurality of disk-carrier means each adapted to carry a disk;   storage means for receiving said disk-carrier means;   drive means engageable with one of said disk-carrier means for reciprocation thereof between a first position wherein said disk carried thereby is in a disk-reading position and a second position wherein said disk-carrier means is substantially received in said storage means;   disk-reading means for reading one of said disks when said disk is in the disk-reading position;   disengaging means for releasing engagement between disk-carrier means and said drive means when said disk-carrier means reaches the second position, by further advancing said disk-carrier means into said storage means, so that said disk-carrier means is retained in a third position completely received in said storage means with no contact with said drive means; and   spring means operative when said disk-carrier means reaches the second position to further advance said disk-carrier means from the second position to a third position wherein said disk-carrier means is completely received in said storage means, thereby releasing engagement between disk-carrier means and said drive means so that said disk-carrier means is locked in said third position in no contact with said drive means.